Participant Information

You have been invited to participate in one of the research activities of the Awe in Immersive Art for Societal Transformation project. The project explores the role and impact of immersive art in supporting societal transformations (more information: https://civicinteractiondesign.com/projects/awe-in-immersive-art-for-societal-transformation). The project is conducted by Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS) in partnership with research and artistic organisations across Europe, supported by the Dutch Research Council SIA Pilot Network Development Towards Europe funding (qilae10971).

You will be asked to participate in any of the following activities aimed at collecting dat : 

• Individual or group interview, in person or online: You will be asked to freely discuss your experience of awe in general and in relation to art.
• Online questionnaire: You will be asked to provide responses to the questions about your awe experience in general and in relation to art.
• Pilot study: You will be exposed to specific stimuli such as audiovisuals, vibrations, varied temperatures, or their combination. This will take place in specially prepared, controlled environments and last up to 90 minutes, including stimuli exposure, questionnaire completion, and interview.

You will also be asked to provide, on a voluntary basis, basic personal data – for example, your name, age in years, gender, and location.

Specific participation criteria for the pilot study (not applicable to interviews or questionnaires): 

• Aged between 18 and 55 years, fit and experienced for environments similar to sauna conditions.
• For both the controlled experimental session (sauna) and the subsequent group debrief (atrium), you will be required to remain fully clothed throughout or may use towels to ensure appropriate bodily coverage, according to your comfort.

What data is collected, how is it collected and processed? 

We will collect data from the above-mentioned activities in the form of audiovisual recordings, filled questionnaire forms, and environmental data (temperature, humidity, sound levels) for controlled environments. All recorded visual material from controlled studies will have identifiable facial features systematically blurred prior to analysis, dissemination, or storage; raw footage will be deleted within 14 days. Your permission for data collection will be elicited from you before data collection begins, via an online or printed form. The collected data will be transcribed for analysis. In addition, some collected data may be included in the project outputs, including scientific publications, reports, conferences, and other media, such as the project’s website. All data we collect, store, and use will be handled according to the applicable data protection legislation, and any personal information will be protected under General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or similar controls. AUAS is the Data Controller. The Privacy Statement of AUAS can be viewed here: https://www.amsterdamuas.com/home/disclaimers/privacy

Your participation 

Participation in this research study is voluntary. You can stop participating in the study at any time for any reason. If you stop, there will be no consequences, and information gathered from you will be removed wherever possible.

Risks involved in participation 

Participating in the study will not expose participants to more than minimal normal everyday risks. 

For pilot study specifically:

• Thermal exposure and dehydration risks are mitigated through participant prescreening, availability of hydration, and limited session duration (approx. 20 min).
• Potential transient annoyance from infrasonic vibration exposure poses no significant psychological, behavioural, or physiological risk. Participants can exit at any time.
• Psychological overwhelm associated with awe is typically positive and short-lived; a quiet space and debriefing are provided post-session.

Storage period of your data 

The data collected from the project will be stored for a period of 10 years after the end of the project. 

Additional information 

Data protection and management plans were reviewed on June 10, 2025 by AUAS (HVA-1076). 

For inquires related to the research project, please contact Principal Investigator, Associate Professor Jaz Hee-jeong Choi (j.choi@hva.nl). 

For all complaints related to the project, please contact Dr André Neumann, Head of Knowledge Centre, Faculty of Digital Media and Creative Industries (a.neumann@hva.nl)protection and management plans were reviewed on Oct 11, 2024  by AUAS 

Participant Consent

By agreeing to participate, I acknowledge the following: 

1. I have read and understood the Participant Information Sheet. 
2. I  understand that my participation in the research is completely voluntary, and I can stop participating in the study at any time for any reason.
3. I give permission for audio and video recordings to be made, and any editing thereof, of any interviews and discussions that I participate in for the purposes as described in the Participant Information Sheet.
4. I understand that the research data, including the responses I provide via online forms and audio/video recordings of the interviews/discussions I participate in as part of this project, will be accessible to the project’s Principal Investigator.
5. I give permission to process my personal and research data for the purposes as described in the Participant Information Sheet and store it for 10 years. 

Please return to the form and select"I confirm" at the end of the online form to indicate your consent.